alkali — (n.) late 14c., soda ash, from M.L. alkali, from Arabic al qaliy the ashes, burnt ashes (of saltwort, a plant growing in alkaline soils), from qala to roast in a pan. The modern chemistry sense is from 1813 … Etymology dictionary

alkali — [al′kə lī΄] n. pl. alkalies or alkalis [ME alkaly &LT; Ar al qily, for al qili, the ashes (of saltwort) &LT; qalai, to roast in a pan] 1. any base or hydroxide, as soda, potash, etc. that is soluble in water and gives a high concentration of… … English World dictionary